The Hindu : Front Page : Bihar seeks more reinforcements

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2005

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Bihar seeks more reinforcements

K. Balchand

Naxalite attack in Jehanabad a security failure, says Centre; paramilitary forces rushed to the State

PATNA: Caught unawares by Sunday night's massive naxal attack in Jehanabad, the Bihar Government is gearing its forces to cope with the aftermath. Chief Secretary G.S. Kang said on Monday the State sought additional Central forces and bullet-proof helicopters to carry out combing operations.

At least six persons — two policemen, two naxalites and two Ranvir Sena (army of landlords) members — were killed when hundreds of naxalites struck the jail, the police lines and other places in Jehanabad. There are unconfirmed reports that nine of the over 20 Sena men kidnapped from their cells in the jail have been executed.

Director-General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha admitted to police lapses. He, however, said the police had protected the armoury.

The State Government claimed that it was constrained by the deployment of forces on election duty elsewhere.

Retaliation feared

The police fear that "executions" and "jan adalats" by the naxalites will trigger retaliation by the Ranvir Sena; Dalit localities could come under attack.

Police officials claimed that at least 15 of the naxalites, who had taken part in the operation, were identified. They belonged to Jehanabad, Aurangabad and Gaya districts.

Fearing a repeat of Sunday's operation, the Government has decided to shift at least 25 top functionaries of the CPI (Maoist) lodged in the Motihari, Bettiah and Bagha jails to the Patna Central Jail.

During the jail raid, the naxalites killed a top Sena functionary, Bade Sharma. They have made it clear that they will hold "jan adalats" and try those whom they took hostage and hand punishments.

A poster left behind by the Maoists warned of further action if the State administration and feudal landlords failed to learn from Sunday's action.

The Ranvir Sena has threatened to avenge the killings. Akhil Bharatiya Rashtrawadi Kisan Sangh spokesman Shailendra Vatsayan, who was on the jail premises, warned that the outfit would not take it lying down. In Aurangabad, Sena supporters took out a torchlight procession.

Probe panel

PTI reports:

The Government constituted a two-member administrative committee to probe the naxalite attack. Home Secretary H.C. Sirohi told PTI that V. Jaishanker, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Water Resources Department, and A.C. Verma, IG (Railways), would hold the inquiry and submit a report in a week.

Situation under control

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said additional Central paramilitary forces were rushed to Jehanabad. Mr. Jaiswal said the situation was under control. "The district authorities have asked for 20 more battalions which we hope to provide soon.'' There were only eight to 10 men in charge of the prison when the naxalites stormed it. "The main reason is that almost the entire force guarding the jail had been deployed for poll duty,'' he said.

Official sources said the Home Ministry was in touch with the Election Commission for redeployment of Central forces. Two more rounds of polling for the Assembly elections are scheduled for November 16 and 18.

Security failure

Talking to reporters, Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal said Jharkhand was also alerted following the attack.

Asked whether intelligence inputs suggested a possible attack or there was any failure on the part of the administration, Mr. Duggal said: "Obviously, nearly 500 cadres assembled in Jehanabad and the authorities cannot say that they were not aware of it. Somebody will have to be accountable for the security failure.''

Review meeting

Home Minister Shivraj Patil presided over a high-level meeting in the Ministry to review the security in Jehanabad and other naxal-dominated areas in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand.

Mr. Duggal said an injured naxalite was taken into custody.

Helicopters would airdrop troops in the dense forests where the naxals were suspected to having their hideouts.

Denying any connection between the November 11 Giridih incident and the Jehanabad attack, Mr. Duggal said an operation was under way to smash the naxalite base responsible for the attack. Seven persons were killed and 183 rifles and two pistols snatched away when extremists attacked a Home Guard camp in Giridih.

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